La part de l'autre

"La part de l'autre," located at the Angèle Brun Memorial Site in Champniers (Charente), is a contemporary installation dedicated to commemorating conflicts and preserving memory. Inaugurated in stages between 2021 and 2022, it reimagines the traditional war memorial by prompting reflection on our shared humanity, the suffering caused by war, and the role of civilians, particularly women.

History of the Project

The project arose from a joint initiative by the municipality of Champniers and local veterans’ associations, notably the FNACA and the ACPG-CATM. It is part of a municipal policy to highlight heritage and create public spaces that combine remembrance, culture, and education.

The development took place in several stages:

• creation of a memorial space around the existing war memorial;
• installation of an initial monumental sculpture depicting a flame;
• the addition, in 2022, of a figurative sculpture depicting a woman from World War I;
• official naming of the site "Angèle Brun Memorial Space", in honor of a resident of Champniers who, in November 1942, hid the Resistance fighter René Michel for several days.

Contemporary Memorial Architecture

Unlike traditional war memorials erected after World War I, "La part de l’autre" is a work of contemporary public art.

The composition is based on two complementary elements:

• a large, monumental flame, a universal symbol of remembrance, vigilance, and the passing down of history;
• a female figure evoking the women on the home front during the Great War.

This combination shifts the perspective on the memory of those who fought. The monument does not merely celebrate military sacrifice; it also commemorates the suffering endured by those left behind: wives, mothers, sisters, children, and families.

The title "La part de l’autre" refers precisely to this idea: recognizing the humanity present in others, but also the suffering endured by those who do not fight directly.

A Work Centered on Women

One of the most original aspects of the memorial is the choice to depict a woman.

In 20th-century French war memorials, female figures do exist but remain relatively rare and often take on allegorical forms (the Republic, Victory, the Fatherland). In Champniers, the sculpture evokes more of an ordinary woman confronting absence, waiting, and mourning.

This depiction highlights the essential role women played during the wars:

• maintaining farms;
• working in factories;
• providing material support to soldiers;
• raising children;
• rebuilding families after the war.

In this way, the memorial broadens the scope of military remembrance to encompass social remembrance.

A Dialogue with the War Memorial

The project did not replace the town’s war memorial.

On the contrary, the memorial has become part of a larger whole in which the various components engage in a dialogue:

• the historic monument retains its commemorative function;
• the contemporary sculptures introduce an artistic and symbolic dimension;
• the public space facilitates ceremonies as well as daily visits.

This evolution aligns with current trends in French memorial architecture, which prioritizes spaces open to reflection rather than mere monuments of celebration.

Integration into the Community’s Heritage

Champniers boasts a heritage that is primarily rural and Romanesque, dominated notably by the Church of Saint Eulalie (12th century), fountains, washhouses, and historic homes. The memorial space represents a much more recent addition to the heritage, but it is now an integral part of the town’s cultural identity. It reflects a commitment to complementing the historical heritage with a contemporary one, where public art serves as a bridge between local history and national memory.

An Educational Dimension

The municipality wanted the site to also serve as a place for educational outreach. The memorial is used during:

• ceremonies on May 8 and November 11;
• commemorations honoring veterans;
• awareness-raising initiatives aimed at younger generations.

A mural created to complement the sculpture was intended to reinforce this narrative by highlighting the roles of men and women during the two world wars, using photographs of Champniers residents.

Heritage Significance

Although it is not protected as a Historic Monument, "La part de l’autre" holds several heritage values:

• historical, through its place in the collective memory of 20th-century conflicts;
• artistic, as an example of contemporary public sculpture;
• civic, by renewing forms of commemoration;
• in terms of identity, as it links national memory with local history.

It illustrates the evolution of 21st-century memorials, which are more focused on dialogue, emotion, and recognition of all victims of war than on heroic glorification alone.